Mayor Beng Climaco has commended the police and military to include the Firearms Explosive Security Agency Group Services (FESAGS) and Local Government unit personnel for the strict enforcement of Executive Order 23 that mandated the temporary suspension on the display, sale and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in the city during the yuletide season.

This, as hospitals in the city registered zero cases of firecracker injuries from December 24 to January 2. No injuries due to stray bullets were also reported during the New Year revelry.

EO BC-23-2013 by Mayor Climaco on November 11, 2013 was based on a City Council resolution, initiated by Councilor BG Guingona citing the Zamboanga crisis from September 9-29 which brought “untold trauma, stress and anxiety to all its residents” as one of the main reasons for the temporary suspension order.

The City was enveloped by the deafening sound of mortars, grenades and ammunitions brought about by the armed conflict between the government security forces and the MNLF forces (Misuari faction), the EO emphasized.

“Congratulations to our authorities and to the residents who cooperated with the local government and the enforcers of the law,” the mayor said though she observed some violators. “there were those who violated but apprehension and closure of stores was the consequence”.

The mayor added: “The unity of Zamboangueno revellers is a positive sign of cooperation, if we were successful in obtaining zero casualty as law abiding citizens then we can start obeying traffic rules to set order and safety in the streets in 2014”.

As this developed, a renewed campaign on the enforcement of traffic rules and regulations will begin Monday, January 6.

Personnel from the City Administrator’s Office in coordination with the police and other agencies concerned will be deployed to strictly check on traffic law violators. — Sheila Covarrubias